[06/27/06 - 12:00 AM]'America's Got Talent' Is the #1 Non-Sports Telecast of the Week in 18-49 and Total Viewers

[via press release from NBC]

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #1 NON-SPORTS TELECAST OF THE WEEK IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

NBC IS #2 IN 18-49 SINCE THE CLOSE OF THE TRADITIONAL SEASON AND #1 IN REGULAR-PROGRAM AVERAGES

BURBANK, Calif. � June 27, 2006 � Paced by the debut of "America's Got Talent," which was the #1 non-sports program of the week, NBC ranked #2 for the week of June 19-25 in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, averaging a 2.2 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall for the week of June 19-25, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

"America's Got Talent" ranked #2 this week (out of a total 111 programs) in both adults 18-49 (4.6/14) and overall total viewers (12.4 million), trailing only ABC's Tuesday NBA Finals telecast. "America's Got Talent" was also the #1 non-sports telecast of the week among adults 18-34 and adults 25-54. Overall, NBC programs accounted for three of the week's top 10 telecasts in adults 18-49. Tuesday's "Last Comic Standing" ranked #5 and Tuesday's "Law & Order: SVU" encore was #9 (tied).

In the one month since the end of the traditional broadcast season, NBC is running #2 in adults 18-49 (versus ranking #4 at this point last summer), with a 2.2 rating versus Fox's 2.4, ABC's 2.1 and CBS' 2.1. In regular-program averages, NBC is #1 since the close of the traditional season with an average 2.5 rating versus Fox's 2.4, CBS' 2.1 and ABC's 1.7.

The top-rated original summer series introduced so far are NBC's "America's Got Talent" (a 4.6 in 18-49), Fox's Thursday and Wednesday editions of "So You Think You Can Dance (a 4.0 and 3.9 respectively in 18-49) and NBC's "Last Comic Standing" (a 3.8 in 18-49).

NBC highlights for the week of June 19-25:

* On Wednesday, the premiere of "America's Got Talent" scored NBC's highest non-Olympics ratings in the time period in 14 months, up 84 percent in 18-49 versus the network's average in the time period last summer and up 44 percent versus NBC's regular 2005-06 season slot average. "America's Got Talent" won its two-hour time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers, pacing NBC to a Wednesday night win.

* On Friday, an encore telecast of Wednesday's "America's Got Talent" premiere dominated its two-hour time period with the highest 18-49 rating for any Friday primetime telecast on any network since the May sweep. "Talent" paced NBC to a Friday night win in 18-49.

* Tuesday's "Last Comic Standing" was the #1 non-sports telecast of the night in 18-49 and the #5-ranked program of the week in adults 18-49. "Last Comic" beat every NBC 18-49 result from last summer in the Tuesday 9 p.m. ET hour.

* Through four weeks, "Last Comic Standing" is doubling NBC's average in the time period versus last summer. Excluding "Deal or No Deal" and "The Apprentice" (whose seasons extended beyond Memorial Day), "Last Comic" is the #4-ranked series so far this summer.

* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" delivered its highest 18-49 rating outside the regular season since June 7, 2005 and was the hour's #1 non-sports choice. "SVU" was up 19 percent versus the same night last year (18-49).

* On Thursday, "Windfall" was #1 in its hour among adults and women 18-34 and #2 (tied) in adults 18-49.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live only results through Dec. 25 and "live plus seven day" data since then, except for the two most recent weeks, which are live plus same day.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of June 19-25:

On Monday, June 19 from 8-11:14 p.m. ET, NBC Sports coverage of game seven of the Carolina Hurricanes-Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged a 2.3 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall and a 3.3/6 in households.

On Tuesday, June 20 at 8 p.m. ET, "Fear Factor" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) was up 25 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period last summer (2.5 vs. 2.0). From its first half-hour to its second, the June 20 "Fear" grew by 22 percent in 18-49 (to a 2.8/9 from a 2.3/8).

Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Last Comic Standing" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) was the night's #1 non-sports telecast in 18-49. "Last Comic" ranked #1 in its time period in adults 18-34 and 18-49 excluding sports and was #1 overall among women 18-34 and 18-49. "Last Comic," which built on its lead-in by 40 percent in 18-49, beat every NBC 18-49 result in this time period last summer.

Also on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.2/9 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating outside the regular season since June 7, 2005 and was the hour's top non-sports choice, more than doubling the CBS competition in all key categories. Versus the same night last year, "SVU" was up 19 percent in 18-49 (3.2 vs. 2.7). "SVU" ranked #9 among all programs this week in adults 18-49 and #6 in total viewers.

On Wednesday, June 21 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "Dateline NBC" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) tied for #2 in the time period in 18-49 with CBS' first-run "Big Brother" special.

Also on Wednesday, from 9-11 p.m. ET, the premiere of "America's Got Talent" (4.6/14 in adults 18-49, 12.4 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest non-Olympic adult 18-49 rating and total viewership in the time period in 14 months (since April 20, 2005), winning its two-hour slot in adults 18-49 and total viewers versus competition that included Fox's original series "So You Think You Can Dance."

"America's Got Talent" was up 84 percent in 18-49 rating compared to NBC's average in the time period last summer (4.6 vs. 2.5) and up 44 percent versus NBC's average in the time period during the recently concluded 2005-06 regular season (4.6 vs. 3.2). This marks the highest 18-49 rating for any non-sports telecast on any network since the June 5 season finale of "Deal or No Deal" and second highest since the May sweep ended on May 24.

NBC won Wednesday night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. This marks NBC's second Wednesday win in the last four weeks among adults 18-49 and first win since Dec. 21 in total viewers.

On Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (2.0/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in 18-49 (tied). At 8:30 p.m., an encore of "The Office" averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 4.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a second "My Name is Earl" rebroadcast (2.3/7 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 28 percent in 18-49. And at 9:30 p.m., a second encore of "The Office" averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall.

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, "Windfall" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) tied for #2 in 18-49 and ranked #1 among adults and women 18-34. "Windfall" built on its lead-in by 33 percent in 18-49 rating.

On Friday, June 23 from 9-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Wednesday's premiere of "America's Got Talent" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) dominated, with the highest 18-49 rating for any Friday primetime telecast on any networks since the May sweep. "America's Got Talent" was up 50 percent versus NBC's average for this time period since the May sweep (2.4 vs. 1.6). The "America's Got Talent" rebroadcast built steadily through each half-hour, increasing by 35 percent in 18-49 from its first half-hour to its fourth (to a 2.7/9 from a 2.0/7). In total viewers, it grew by 1.1 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, June 25 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers overall. "Dateline" built by 64 percent in 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its fourth (to a 1.8/5 from a 1.1/4). At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) won the hour among adults 25-54. At 10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall.